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Entry requirements for Tourism travel
Do Canada citizens need a visa for Madagascar? For tourism travel, the current rule is visa on arrival, with a permitted stay of up to 30 days per visit. This tourism rule was last checked against an official government source — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar (entry visa), on 2026-08-29. It applies to Canada passport holders, but the exact conditions granted on the day can still differ, so keep the requirements below — and the official source in the sidebar — handy when you plan your trip.
A visa on arrival means the visa is issued when you reach the destination, usually at the arrival counter. Carry the required documents and fees, expect a short queue, and remember that entry is still granted at the officer’s discretion.
Before you travel — tourism checklist
- Apply for (and receive) your visaYou need a visa for this route — book travel only after you receive the decision.
- Passport valid and checkedPassport valid for at least 6 months with one blank page
- Return or onward ticket bookedBorder control can ask to see proof of your return or onward travel.
- Supporting documents preparedFunds, itinerary and ties-to-home evidence are listed under the evidence sections on this page.
Every item is derived from the verified requirements on this page — tick them off before you go.
Entry requirements · Tourism travel
Passport requirements
- Passport valid for at least 6 months with one blank page
How to apply
- Visitors receive a tourist visa on arrival at ports of entry
- An e-Visa can be applied for online before travel
Required documents
- Valid passport
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of funds
Financial evidence
- Proof of sufficient funds for the stay
Accommodation or invitation evidence
If applicable- Hotel booking or accommodation details
Health requirements
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate required when arriving from an endemic country
Conditions & restrictions
- Tourist visa on arrival is generally valid for up to 30 days (longer for some nationalities)
Canada citizens travelling to Madagascar for tourism: visa on arrival up to 30 days. Based on the official Madagascar visa and entry information reviewed.
Planning your trip to Madagascar
Practical notes about Madagascar — checked as part of this page for tourism travellers.
The Baobab Avenue and the Sunset of the West
The avenue of the baobabs, in the west of the country, is the most famous sight of Madagascar, a dusty track between the enormous, bottle-shaped trees, the great baobabs of the Grandidier species that reach twenty or thirty metres into the sky and hold water in their swollen trunks for the long dry season. The sunsets behind the giants of the avenue turn the whole plain orange and the silhouettes of the trees black for the photographer's classic hour, and the trees, some of them eight hundred years old, stand over the rice fields and the cattle tracks like the survivors of a lost age. The region beyond, the dry forests of the Menabe, holds more of the baobab species and the small, precious reserves of the local wildlife. It is a short, unforgettable stop on the classic trip through the west.
The Lemurs of Andasibe and the Rainforest Tracks
The mountain forest of Andasibe, a few hours from the capital, is the easiest and the most rewarding place in the country to meet the lemurs, and its reserve and the surrounding guides make the night walks and the dawn stalks part of the standard visit. The great indri, the largest of the living lemurs, sings its haunting call through the canopy in the early morning, and the smaller sifakas, the brown and the bamboo lemurs of the forest, leap through the high branches of the valleys. The trails of the reserve run the streams and the giant ferns of the humid forest, and the chameleons, the geckos and the frogs of the nighttime hold the smaller wonders of the forest. The guides of the region, the best in the country, turn every walk into a story of the island's unique natural history.
The Tsingy and the Limestone Canyons of the West
The tsingy of the west, the vast, razor-sharp limestone forests of the Bemaraha plateau, are the most dramatic geological scenery of Madagascar, a maze of pinnacles, deep canyons and the impossible, knife-edged ridges of the eroded rock. The trails of the reserve cross the chasms on the suspended walkways and climb the ladders between the spires, and the reward is the view over a forest of stone that seems to stretch to the horizon. The reserve also guards the lemurs of the gorges, the Decken's sifakas, and the birds and the reptiles of the dry forest that cling to the cracks of the rock. The region, a world heritage site, is reached by the long, rough drive and the river crossing, and its remoteness is part of its power. The tsingy are an experience that stays in the memory for years.
The Rice Fields, the High Plateau and the Capital of the Hills
The high plateau of the centre of the country, where the capital of Antananarivo sits among the terraced rice fields of the valleys, is the rice bowl and the historical heart of the kingdom of the Merina. The capital itself climbs its red hills in a jumble of the old wooden balconies, the brick of the older architecture, the winding lanes of the old town and the grandest palace of the kingdom, the Rova, standing above the city. The markets of the capital, the stalls of the vanilla, the crafts and the everyday trade, and the taxis and the carts of the narrow streets set the loud, friendly pace of the city. The surrounding countryside, the green terraces and the quiet villages of the plateau, is a beautiful, working, ancient landscape.
Common questions
Do Canadian citizens need a visa for Madagascar?+
Visa on arrival. Permitted stay: up to 30 days.
What documents do I need to enter Madagascar?+
Valid passport. Return or onward ticket. Proof of funds.
What passport validity is required to enter Madagascar?+
Passport valid for at least 6 months with one blank page.
Are there any restrictions for entering Madagascar?+
Tourist visa on arrival is generally valid for up to 30 days (longer for some nationalities)
How long can Canadian citizens stay in Madagascar?+
The permitted stay for tourism travel is up to 30 days. The exact period granted depends on the entry decision at the border.
Where can I check the official Madagascar visa and entry rules?+
This information was last verified on 2026-08-29 against an official government source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar (entry visa) (https://www.mae.gov.mg/).
Related resources
- Madagascar travel guide →Cities, airports and practical travel info.
- Airports in Madagascar →Codes, terminals and ground transport.
- Canada guide →Everything we cover for Canada.
- How we verify rules →Sources, review dates and our quality checks.
- All Canada routes →Entry requirements from Canada to every destination.
